Venice Film Festival Marred by Controversies and Mixed Reactions

The 80th edition of the Venice Film Festival began with a subdued atmosphere due to the ongoing Hollywood strike. The festival opened with Edoardo De Angelis' Italian World War II submarine drama, Comandante, after Luca Guadagnino's Zendaya starrer Challengers was pulled from the lineup. The grand opening ceremony featured a retrospective of Venice cinema and honored filmmaker Liliana Cavani with a lifetime Golden Lion award. The festival jury president, Damien Chazelle, was also celebrated. The film Comandante, which tells the true story of Salvatore Todaro, received a warm reception but set a downbeat tone for the start of the festival.